Digging and planting machine

Abstract

A digging and planting machine is provided having a tubular digging and planting tool, and at least one sensing and signalling means for sensing the resistance below and/or exceeding a predetermined minimum of the ground to penetration by the digging tip of the tool, thus gauging the condition of the ground, and detecting obstacles to such penetration, so as to ensure that the digging tip provides and a plant is fed to a planting hole of the desired depth, when ground condition is suitable, and, when ground condition is not suitable, that a digging attempt is aborted and a new attempt made as soon as possible.

Having regard to the foregoing disclosure, the following is claimed as inventive and patentable embodiments thereof: 
     
       1. A digging and planting machine having a tubular digging and planting tool; at least one sensing and signalling means for sensing a resistance below and/or exceeding a predetermined value to penetration of the ground by the digging tip of the tool, thus gauging the condition of the ground, and detecting obstacles to such penetration so as to ensure that the digging tip provides and a plant is fed to a planting hole of the desired depth, and a digging attempt is aborted if this be impossible, and comprising an elongated member movable towards and away from the ground in a selected location where a planting hole is to be dug; means biasing the elongated member resiliently towards the ground with a force opposed by the force resisting penetration of the member into the ground, the biasing force being insufficient to prevent movement of the member against the biasing force at a resisting force above a predetermined minimum; at least one signalling means and at least one signal actuating means operatively associated with the elongated member and responding to a predetermined movement of the elongated member as a function of the penetrability of the ground, due to the condition of the ground at that location, by actuating the signalling means to give a signal indicating that the elongated member has detected a resisting force above the predetermined minimum showing the digging tip cannot provide a planting hole of the desired depth; and timing control means operatively connected to the sensing and signalling means and establishing and controlling the time for the digging and planting tool to carry out a normal cyclic digging and planting operation; and the raising and lowering of the digging and planting tool towards and away from the ground, and, in response to the signal, aborting that digging attempt and causing the digging and planting tool to make another hole-digging attempt as soon as the attempt is aborted. 
     
     
       2. A digging and planting machine according to claim 1 in which the actuating means is a detent which actuates the signalling means. 
     
     
       3. A digging and planting machine according to claim 1 in which the signalling means is an electric switch and gives an electric signal. 
     
     
       4. A digging and planting machine according to claim 1 in which the elongated member is arranged for movement in a substantially vertical direction and has a lower end which is adapted to engage the ground, which is reciprocably movable with respect to the elongated member, and which is biased towards the ground. 
     
     
       5. A digging and planting machine according to claim 4 in which the elongated member comprises a plurality of signal actuating means and of signalling means, each signal actuating means actuating only one signalling means, each signalling means being actuated and signalling a ground condition corresponding to the resisting force required to move the lower end to that actuating position. 
     
     
       6. A digging and planting machine according to claim 1 in which the elongated member comprises a planting tube and its lower end a digging tip, and a plant feeding means connected to a plant supply and to the planting tube for feeding a plant to a hole formed by the digging tip in the ground. 
     
     
       7. A digging and planting machine according to claim 1 in which the elongated member is a feeler member and is in operative connection with a digging and planting tool. 
     
     
       8. A digging and planting machine according to claim 1 having at least one time relay operatively connected with the timing control and the sensing and signalling means, the time relay being arranged to be energized and deenergized by signals from the signalling means; and the timing control means being responsive to at least one of (a) expiration of the time delay interval and (b) an interruption of the time delay interval to initiate at least one of (A) a further attempt to dig a hole and (B) the feeding of a plant to the planting hole, according to the signal received. 
     
     
       9. A digging and planting machine according to claim 1 in which the biasing force is provided by a spring. 
     
     
       10. A digging and planting machine comprising, in combination, a vehicle, and, carried on the vehicle, a digging and planting tool including a tubular member movable between a lower position partially embedded in the ground and an upper position above the ground, and having an open digging and planting tip end, for digging a hole and conveying a plant to the hole; means for moving the tubular member between its lower and upper positions; at least one sensing and signalling means for sensing an abnormal resistance below and/or above a predetermined minimum to penetration of the ground by the digging tip of the tool, thus gauging the condition of the ground, and detecting obstacles to such penetration; so as to ensure that the digging tip provides and a plant is fed to a planting hole of the desired depth, and a digging attempt is aborted if this be impossible; and comprising an elongated member movable towards and away from the ground in a selected location where a planting hole is to be dug; means biasing the elongated member resiliently towards the ground with a force opposed by the force resisting penetration of the member into the ground, the biasing force being insufficient to prevent movement of the member against the biasing force at a resisting force above a predetermined minimum; at least one signalling means and at least one signal actuating means operatively associated with the elongated member and responding to a predetermined movement of the elongated member as a function of the penetrability of the ground due to the condition of the ground at that location, by actuating the signalling means to give a signal indicating that the elongated member has detected a resisting force above the predetermined minimum showing the digging tip cannot provide a planting hole of the desired depth; and timing control means operatively connected to the sensing and signalling means and establishing and controlling the time for the digging and planting tool to carry out a normal cyclic digging and planting operation; and the movement of the tubular member between its upper and lower positions, and, in response to a signal from the signalling means aborting a digging attempt and promptly starting another digging attempt, while in the absence of abnormal resistance providing a hole of the desired depth. 
     
     
       11. A digging and planting machine according to claim 10 having two sensing and signalling means, each detecting different ground conditions. 
     
     
       12. A digging and planting machine according to claim 11 in which one sensing means detects too soft a ground condition, by a resistance below a predetermined minimum; and the second sensing means detects too hard a ground condition by a resistance above a predetermined minimum. 
     
     
       13. A digging and planting machine according to claim 10 having three sensing and signalling means, each detecting different ground conditions. 
     
     
       14. A digging and planting machine according to claim 13 in which one sensing means detects too soft a ground condition, by a resistance below a predetermined minimum; the second sensing means detects too hard a ground condition by a resistance above a predetermined minimum; and the third sensing means detects an acceptable ground condition. 
     
     
       15. A digging and planting machine according to claim 10 having a time relay controlling the time required for the digging and planting tool to carry out a normal digging operation, which in the absence of a signal of abnormal resistance to penetration of the ground by the digging and planting tool runs its full time cycle and then controls raising of the tool to an at-rest position after the hole is dug and the plant planted in it; and having the signalling means arranged to interrupt the time relay and prematurely cut this time so that the tool immediately returns to the at-rest position when the digging must be aborted. 
     
     
       16. A digging and planting machine according to claim 10 in which the sensing and signalling means is carried on the vehicle together with the digging and planting tool; and the tool comprises a reciprocably movable digging tip which is biased towards the ground, and which is moved against the biasing force when a predetermined resistance to penetration of the ground by the tip is encountered; and the tip actuates the sensing and signalling means after having moved a selected distance. 
     
     
       17. A digging and planting machine according to claim 16 comprising a plurality of a sensing and signalling means arranged to be actuated in sequence after the tip has moved a selected increment of its full reciprocation. 
     
     
       18. A digging and planting machine according to claim 10 in which the sensing and signalling means is carried on the vehicle in a separate location, spaced from the digging and planting tool, and comprises a reciprocable feeler means equivalent in ground penetrating capability to the digging tip, and biased towards the ground, and moved against the biasing force when a predetermined resistance to penetration of the ground by the feeler means is encountered; and actuates the sensing and signalling means after having moved a selected distance. 
     
     
       19. A digging and planting machine according to claim 18 comprising a plurality of sensing and signalling means, arranged to be actuated in sequence after the feeler has moved a selected increment of its full reciprocation. 
     
     
       20. A digging and planting machine according to claim 10 comprising means for compacting earth about the plant after it has been deposited in the hole; and means for moving the digging and planting tool and the compacting means separately and together between ground-elevated and ground-contacting positions. 
     
     
       21. A digging and planting machine according to claim 10 comprising closure means movable between a first position closing off the open tip end of the digging and planting tool for digging a hole, and a second position exposing the open end for delivery of a plant from the planting tool into the hole.